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Grand Canyon Reader Awards

The purpose of these awards is to stimulate the interest of young readers in outstanding literature written primarily for them. An additional aim of the award is to encourage cooperation among administrators, library media specialists, and teachers in broadening the reading programs at all levels. Since 1977, these awards have had a place among the national children's literature awards.

Ten (10) books are nominated for each of the four categories:

Picture books

Intermediate books

Tween books

Non-fiction books

Starting in 2008, a new category for recommended teen books was created, but it is a voting optional category. A separate Web site has been developed to promote the awards. It lists lesson plans, book talks, book reviews and other helpful links.

GCRA Committee Contacts

The Judy Goddard/Libraries Ltd. Awards are given for two types of writing, one for children up to twelve years, the second for yung adults, twelve to nineteen years. Libraries Ltd., provides Phoenix support for the awards.

Criteria

The nominees for the Children and Youth/Illustrator Awards shall:

Be a living writer, preferably one who lives in the state itself, or has lived in the state or the immediately surrounding region, or met the requirements until his/her recent death

Feature or be closely identified with Arizona and the surrounding region

In the case of the Children's Author/Illustrator Award, the book is intended primarily for children up to twelve years

In the case of the Young Adult Author Award, the book is intended primarily for young adults twelve to nineteen years

Selection Committees

Young Adult Author Award Committee

There shall be five persons comprising this subgroup: one member nominated by the Teacher Librarian Division and Libraries Ltd.; two persons nominated by the Arizona Librarians for Young Adult Services Interest Group; and the subcommittee at its first meeting will select one additional member at large who may be a member of AzLA and/or a member of Libraries Ltd.

Children's Author / Illustrator Award Committee

There shall be five persons comprising this subgroup: one member nominated by the Teacher Librarian Division and Libraries Ltd.; two persons nominated by the KIDS Interest Group; and the subcommittee at its first meeting will select one additional member at large who may be a member of AzLA and/or a member of Libraries Ltd.

Subcommittee chairperson, named by the AzLA President, shall be an ex-officio member of the Awards Committee. The subcommittee shall have two elements to accommodate the different focus of each award. Chairpersons shall serve for two years, appointment to begin in odd numbered years. Members serve two-year terms that shall be staggered to provide continuity. Members may be reappointed once.

Duties and Responsibilities of Committee Members:

To function as subgroups under direction of the chair

To present a program proposal to the annual Conference Program Chair that highlights the award winners
The award(s) shall be presented only in those years when, in the wisdom of the committee, there is a qualified recipient

The recipient shall be determined in sufficient time to meet the schedule issued by the Awards Committee